Hakodate day 1

October 02, 2019・11 min read (1037 words)

I left house at 0606, got 2 rice balls from Lawson and ran a tiny bit of the way to make the 0613 train from Ootsuka.

Ueno station: the guy in front had the same idea as me.

My shinkansen was actually two separate trains temporarily joined while in the Tokyo urban area, but which would split off later. Pretty cool. I also like that they play music a couple of minutes before every stop so that you can wake up/be prepared.

Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station: I'm in Hokkaido! It was cool outside. The
four hour train ride felt like it only took an
hour. — Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station: I'm in Hokkaido! It was cool outside. The four hour train ride felt like it only took an hour.

Shin-Hakodate is in the middle of nowhere so you have to catch a half hour
train to get to Hakodate. — Shin-Hakodate is in the middle of nowhere so you have to catch a half hour train to get to Hakodate.

A cute display at the station, with the appropriate trains.

I didn't feel like eating my onigiri so I had them for lunch at the station.

The plan today was to walk around Hakodate and see things. It was a 2km walk to my hostel, with many stops along the way.

Hakodate Morning Market, Hakodate: such a fan of having maps everywhere.

Squid-ink soft serve. Tasty as well as creamy, but melting, and it wasn't
even a hot day. — Squid-ink soft serve. Tasty as well as creamy, but melting, and it wasn't even a hot day.

A melon whose name I think was "katta". Tasty, supple and soft. You could
get the same quality in Sydney so I'm not sure that it was worth the 250 JPY
but I had to try. — A melon whose name I think was "katta". Tasty, supple and soft. You could get the same quality in Sydney so I'm not sure that it was worth the 250 JPY but I had to try.

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, Hakodate: these old warehouses have been
turned into shops and restaurants. — Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, Hakodate: these old warehouses have been turned into shops and restaurants.

If only I thought that chopstick rests were useful.

This chopstick store had a huge selection of chopsticks at all price
points. — This chopstick store had a huge selection of chopsticks at all price points.

Cute woven (woven? I don't know my textiles terms) stuff.

After browsing some of the shops I felt pretty dead since I barely slept last night or on the shinkansen and it was 1400. I sat down for a break and ended up falling asleep for a good 10-15 minutes. The hostel was next door so I went there to hopefully check in half an hour early and get some sleep, but I was only allowed to drop off my bag. That probably ended up being a good thing because I went back out and walked some more.

The red circle on the left corner of the bay was where this sign was. My
hostel was Hakoba on the left of that. — The red circle on the left corner of the bay was where this sign was. My hostel was Hakoba on the left of that.

The streets all slope up to the base of Mount Hakodate, some quite
steeply. — The streets all slope up to the base of Mount Hakodate, some quite steeply.

I just thought that this looked interesting.

Midori no Shima, Hakodate: a little island in the middle of the
bay. — Midori no Shima, Hakodate: a little island in the middle of the bay.

There were some people fishing a bit further down.

Looking back at Mount Hakodate from the island.

There were so many temples in the area, it was ridiculous. They’re all unique but they still end up looking and feeling the same after a while. I wasn’t even looking for them, but I felt obligated to go inside every one that I walked past. I don’t blame you for scrolling through.

I would've thought that it might be considered disrespectful to have cars
parked inside the grounds or something but I guess
not. — I would've thought that it might be considered disrespectful to have cars parked inside the grounds or something but I guess not.

Tea Shop Yuhi, Hakodate: It was a decent walk to get here and there's not
much else except the nice view of Hakodate Bay and great tea. This was just
the tea that they give you when you come in, but it was
delicious. — Tea Shop Yuhi, Hakodate: It was a decent walk to get here and there's not much else except the nice view of Hakodate Bay and great tea. This was just the tea that they give you when you come in, but it was delicious.

I ordered matcha mixed with milk because I had no idea what it would taste
like. I wouldn't travel just for this but it was good. The bubbles had an
amazing milk smell. Since the sun was setting, it was in my eyes while I was
having this, which was a little annoying. — I ordered matcha mixed with milk because I had no idea what it would taste like. I wouldn't travel just for this but it was good. The bubbles had an amazing milk smell. Since the sun was setting, it was in my eyes while I was having this, which was a little annoying.

I chatted to a middle aged Japanese guy with a huge camera about how it was
a nice view with nice colours. As well as my Japanese would allow
anyway. — I chatted to a middle aged Japanese guy with a huge camera about how it was a nice view with nice colours. As well as my Japanese would allow anyway.

It was the walk back that really killed me with the temples. It was cool how a lot of the sights had signs with history written on them.

When I was checking in I managed to get through most of the process speaking Japanese (there wasn’t much speaking to be done after all) but the receptionist switched to English when she realised that I had no idea what she was saying as she explained the rooms and procedures.

Share Hotels Hakoba, Hakodate: what a great hostel. The beds were spacious,
sturdy, and private, and the aisles were so wide! — Share Hotels Hakoba, Hakodate: what a great hostel. The beds were spacious, sturdy, and private, and the aisles were so wide!

You get your own light and privacy curtain.

I don't know about other rooms, but my room was huge and probably had
thirty beds. This is a sort of creepy view looking in from the upstairs
playroom. — I don't know about other rooms, but my room was huge and probably had thirty beds. This is a sort of creepy view looking in from the upstairs playroom.

The other areas were meh but no one really cares if the actual dorm is
amazing. I suppose it was more like a capsule hotel, including supplied
toiletries. — The other areas were meh but no one really cares if the actual dorm is amazing. I suppose it was more like a capsule hotel, including supplied toiletries.

I lay in bed for a while, napped, and showered. Sadly they didn’t provide moisturiser which is one thing that I always can’t be bothered bringing but would also love to have.

I walked around town to find dinner and noticed that it was quite dead. Many restaurants were closed even at 2100, and there was barely anyone on the streets. I guess I’m just used to Tokyo. I wore pants (sweat pants) for the first time this trip since it was so cool.

Grano E Acqua, Hakodate: salmon cream and some Japanese fruit pasta. Good
at first and then got a bit too creamy. — Grano E Acqua, Hakodate: salmon cream and some Japanese fruit pasta. Good at first and then got a bit too creamy.

When I got back to the hostel I blogged while sipping on milk, making me sleep rather late.

Desperate to try milk in Hokkaido, I went to the closest 7-11 and bought a
litre since that was the only size that they had. It wasn't even that good
and I felt a bit nauseous from fullness after drinking a quarter of the
carton so I put the rest in the fridge. — Desperate to try milk in Hokkaido, I went to the closest 7-11 and bought a litre since that was the only size that they had. It wasn't even that good and I felt a bit nauseous from fullness after drinking a quarter of the carton so I put the rest in the fridge.

Waking hours

0555–2620

Written by Daniel Tam

← Getting ready to holiday in Hokkaido